Skull Coast Ale Company Blog

BeerAdvocate for Skull Coast Ale Company

2010-12-09T05:08:00.000-08:00

There appears to be two different areas on BeerAdvocate for Skull Coast Ales. The company site is located at: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22472

Skull Coast at Charlotte Panther Home Games

2010-08-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

Skull Coast Ale Company is proud to announce that we will be in two Premium Beer portables on Level 1 and Level 5 for all Charlotte Panthers home games at Bank of America Stadium.

If you enter the stadium on the East Side, you will find us near Section 125.

If your seats are located on Level 5, you can find us at Section 502 next to the Wendy's food stand.

For each game, Maelstrom IPA will be available. At 7% ABV and 85 IBUs, you are certainly getting your money's worth. Additionally, we will be featuring a NEW brew every game. So, it'll almost be like being at a Beer Festival while watching the Charlotte Panthers Games!

Skull Coast Coming to Davidson - Brickhouse Tavern August 2nd, 7pm

2010-07-29T03:19:00.001-07:00

Come on by and grab a pint... and meet the Skull Coast Girl! Monday, August 2nd at 7pm

Skull Coast Sails Into Charlotte with Carolina Premium Beverage

2010-07-01T04:56:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Charlotte, NC, July 1, 2010 -- The Skull Coast Ale Company is pleased to announce that Carolina Premium Beverage will be distributing its Maelstrom IPA in the five counties surrounding Mecklenburg, including the City of Charlotte.

“Carolina Premium Beverage is both excited and honored to have the opportunity to represent Skull Coast Ale Company and have the opportunity to work with Dave Fox. Dave’s passion for excellence and his commitment to quality come to life in his Skull Coast Maelstrom IPA that will be exciting to sell and a definite reward for Craft beer consumers lucky enough to experience it, “ said Rick Stell, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Carolina Premium Beverage.

Skull Coast’s “Chief Drinking Officer,” David Fox, was delighted to have reached an agreement with Carolina Premium Beverage, “Carolina Premium Beverage is just that; a premium distribution company. They are extremely selective in the brands they choose to represent, and have turned away many a suitor. We couldn’t be more proud that they chose our company, and want to help build our brand.”

Soon after Skull Coast signed the distribution agreement, the Carolina Premium Beverage on-premise sales team secured placements at Mac’s Speed Shop, Tilted Kilt, Flying Saucer, Revolution Pizza & Ale House, Pizza Peel, BrickHouse Tavern, and Duckworth’s Cheesesteakery.

When asked about the Charlotte rollout and the placements Carolina Premium was able to immediately secure, David Fox said, “We are thrilled with the rollout! It’s a veritable ‘who’s who’ of some of the finest craft beer accounts in Charlotte. We have also heard whispers of the second wave accounts that are interested, and believe that we’ll soon be able to get Maelstrom IPA to our target market, the craft beer lover and HopHead.”

Skull Coast is currently expanding capacity to be able to deliver kegs to the rest of North Carolina. But, for now, Maelstrom IPA will only be available in the Charlotte market at select accounts.

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The Skull Coast Ale Company creates big, bold, high-gravity ales that celebrate the people, culture and history of the Carolinas during the Golden Age of Piracy.

Maelstrom IPA at The Lodge at Hilton Head

2010-06-18T05:41:00.001-07:00

The Skull Coast Ale Company is extremely proud to have been added to The Lodge at Hilton Head's incredible line-up of taps. Maelstrom IPA now has a presence in Hilton Head, SC. So, for all our fans that have been asking when we're going to get down there, swing over to The Lodge and grab a pint or growler!

Laura Alberts has Maelstrom IPA on Tap!

2010-06-13T06:58:00.001-07:00

We're extremely proud to have added Laura Alberts Tasteful Options as an account in the Charleston area. They have wonderful food, great craft beers on-tap, and you can grab a growler of Maelstrom IPA to take home with you!

Maelstrom IPA uses Maris Otter

2010-05-30T03:52:00.000-07:00

I have been asked numerous times, "What makes Maelstrom IPA so much different and better tasting than most IPAs?"

The answer in two words: Maris Otter

Maris Otter is imported from the UK, and well-known among brewers as a superior grain over traditional 2-row. It's also unfortunately much more expensive. But, to achieve Maelstrom's distinct flavor, it's a primary factor.

Maelstrom IPA at the Barley's Taproom in Greenville

2010-05-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

We want to thank Barley's Taproom in Greenville for being the first to support Skull Coast and agree to carry our product in Greenville. Please be sure to stop by and grab a pint!

Maelstrom IPA at the Grapevine in Baxter Village

2010-05-29T14:33:00.001-07:00

Dave and all the gang at the Grapevine have been great to our company. Be sure to drop by and ask for a Maelstrom IPA. They are also offering Maelstrom in Growlers.

Maelstrom IPA at Six Pence in Baxter Village

2010-05-29T14:25:00.001-07:00

Be sure to drop by the Six Pence Pub in Fort Mill to enjoy a Skull Coast Maelstrom IPA. They are located in Baxter Village.

Maelstrom IPA at Mellow Mushroom in Myrtle Beach

2010-05-29T05:50:00.001-07:00

The Mellow Mushroom in Myrtle Beach, SC is now carrying Maelstrom IPA. Please swing by and check it out. We want to thank the Mellow Mushroom for their support. If you are a Myrtle Beach local establishment and would like to carry Maelstrom IPA, please contact the Yahnis Company.

New Sales Sheet for Maelstrom IPA

2010-05-29T05:40:00.000-07:00

Here's the new Maelstrom IPA sales sheet. Now, you don't have to get it from the distributor... you can see it right here!

The Maelstrom IPA Kegs Are Here!

2010-04-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

Maelstrom IPA has been kegged and shipped to Comer Distributing in York County. Here's a couple shots of our bright, shiny new kegs as are they are preparing for their trip to the distributors.

Prohibition Repealed Today (in 1933)

2010-04-07T04:56:00.001-07:00

Today, in 1933, the prohibition on 3.2% ABV beer was repealed.

Maelstrom IPA First Hop Addition Image

2010-04-02T08:17:00.001-07:00

Here's the first hop addition being added to the kettle!

Maelstrom IPA Brew Session Images

2010-04-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

Here's a shot when we were moments away from the first hop addition.

Skull Coast Set To Release -- Maelstrom IPA

2010-04-01T05:26:00.000-07:00

We are proud to announce the imminent arrival of our debut ale, Maelstrom IPA.

As many craft beer drinkers know, India Pale Ales were originally brewed at a higher gravity to survive long voyages in the 1700s. Big Beers for Tall Ships of the Sea. Today, IPAs are produced to quench the thirst and tantalize the taste buds of craft beer lovers and “hopheads”everywhere.

The Maelstrom IPA only uses the finest ingredients on the market. We start with a number specialty malts, including Maris Otter, Victory and Carastan, to give this 7% ABV ale a massive body and perfect color. This drier, less caramelly, foundation provides the perfect platform for our proprietary hop addition schedule, adding premium Northwest hops almost constantly over 90-minutes.

But, we don’t stop the hop additions at the kettle! We add another pound per barrel of “dry hops” during conditioning to give even more aroma. These 25 additional pounds of hops are a combination of five (5) complimentary Northwest hops to give it a one-of-a-kind hop punch and complexity.

With all the additions from the kettle through “dry hopping”, it clocks in at an astounding 85 IBUs. It’s easy to see why it’s called, the “Maelstrom IPA.”

Maelstrom [pronounced “Mail-strum”] is a powerful tidal whirlpool or swirling vortex with a considerable downdraft in the ocean. A visual representation of a Maelstrom can be seen in the climax scene of the “Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World’s End.” You can view the following short video to see:

For our purposes, we consider our IPA a “Delirious Descent into a Maelstrom of Hops.” To get more information, please visit our website at: http://www.skullcoastales.com

New "Secret Ingredient" is AWESOME!

2009-11-02T08:01:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, I had an opportunity to taste the long-awaited new brew with the secret ingredient and... was BLOWN-AWAY! It tastes amazing. Absolutely amazing! Clean, crisp and very, very drinkable! I couldn't believe it was a 6% white ale. I couldn't stop sampling it. My friend, Kevin, who came along on the tasting, finally had to tell me, "If you keep drinking it, you won't have anything left for your new accounts to sample!" LOL!

Now, we're ready for production!!! It's finally ready for market!!!

Quick Bit of History: Mayflower Landing & Beer

2009-09-11T07:18:00.000-07:00

Every school child in America learns the story about how the Pilgrims sailed across the Atlantic to escape religious persecution, and start a colony in the New World of America. We of course celebrate this tiding every year by having a Thanksgiving feast, and, well, watching a bit of football. But did you know that there is a bit of a beer controversy regard why the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth rock instead of further up to the Hudson River, near present day New York City?

Well, as some beer enthusiasts like to tell the story (no doubt over a pint), that the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth because of a shortage of beer. This bit of folklore is often backed up with an account by Colonists William Bradford and Edward Winslow, who wrote: "We could not now take time for further search or consideration, our victuals being much spent, especially our beer ..."

Some of the more colorful tales go on to say that the Pilgrims first act upon landing was to build a brewery. No doubt this whopper is dropped around the 5th beer in the storytelling session.

An actual historian however, Bob Silnik, author of Beer & Food: An American History, puts us straight:

"The Pilgrims put to shore at Plymouth on December 19, 1620. It was winter, their supplies were low, they were dying and in need of shelter.

Who in their right mind would believe that the first building the Pilgrims put up would be a brewery? People were already beginning to die because of cold weather, disease and poor nutrition. By the time spring arrived, more than half of the 102 settlers would perish... and we're to believe that a new brewery had top priority on the Pilgrims' "Things To Do Today" list?"

So, while it's a great story. The actual story is a bit more depressing. Unfortunately, the settlers came to the New World and spent roughly 5 weeks exploring. Yep. In the words of Silnik:

"...what we have here, my friends, is NOT a party of starving Pilgrims who simply pulled up to Plymouth Rock because they were out of beer, had no water and no "victuals" on hand. No, what has been described instead was a group of naive individuals who called a little bit too much on God for direction, failed to heed the philosophy that "God helps those who help themselves," took too long to pick a spot to settle down, even if it was to only to be for the winter, and as a result of indecision, watched as more than half of them died through the winter.

This doesn't mean that you can't enjoy a "Skull White Ale" and tell the much more fun previous whopper of a story and see if your companions buy it!

Considering New Motto....

2009-09-10T16:47:00.001-07:00

Any thoughts on

"Support Your Local Pirate!"

The Towne Tavern at Fort Mill -- For Draft!

2009-09-10T15:49:00.000-07:00

The Towne Tavern at Fort Mill wants kegs of Skull White Ale, and we're going to give them to 'em! We're going to throw the most incredible launch party for the Towne Tavern that it has ever seen... on Halloween! What could be better?!

Stay tuned for info!

The Skull Coast Ales "Skull White" Label

2009-09-09T06:19:00.000-07:00

A lot of people have asked, "What will the bottle label look like?" So, I thought I should post it.

The label itself is almost a full wrap label, giving us an opportunity to explain a bit about the company, concept and contents on the left hand description. It also satisfies all the government regulations concerning alcohol content (6% ABV), recycling information and health warnings.

One of the things those who may not be familiar with the industry probably don't know is that we also had to add an additional description below the Carolina White Ale stating, "Wheat Ale Brewed with Spices." Interestingly, if a brew has anything other than the usual ingredients, water, barley, hops, etc., this language must be included. So, since this is a white ale, brewed with coriander, orange peel and another secret spice, we had to include this language. We also had to include this language under the logo itself. It could not go on the side. And, while it may muddy up the branding a bit (in my humble opinion), I have no option other than to accept it. You can't fight city hall -- or in this case the TTB. But, I must say, while I may have my reservations about the need for regs like this, the folks over at the TTB have been incredibly helpful in explaining them and providing assistance.

And, finally, I would like to thank my graphic designer, Jim Snyder, for taking my little doodles and amateur photoshop representations of the Skull Coast logo, and converting it into a first class brand.

Welcome to the Skull Coast Ale Co. Blog!

2009-09-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

In an effort to keep in touch and interact with our customers, we decided to start this blog. It is our hope that in the weeks, months and many years to come, we'll be able to use this space to keep you apprised of new Skull Coast Ale Company happenings, changes, new ales and events. We encourage all those who have had the "Skull White" experience to please help us out with suggestions and feedback.

Cheers!